Multiplication X
The multiplication X is U+2715, a dingbat cross. It is the character most often used for a close or dismiss control, because it is a clean symmetrical X that is not the letter x and not the multiplication operator.
| Symbol | ✕ | |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode | U+2715 | |
| Name | Multiplication X | |
| HTML (decimal) | ✕ | |
| HTML (hex) | ✕ | |
| CSS content | \2715 | |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u2715 | |
| UTF-8 bytes | 0xE2 0x9C 0x95 | |
| UTF-16 units | 0x2715 |
How do you type the multiplication x on each platform?
| Where | How to type it |
|---|---|
| Any device | Click the ✕ at the top of this page. It goes straight to your clipboard, and you paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows or Cmd+V on a Mac. This is the only method that behaves identically everywhere. |
| Windows | There is no short alt code for this character. Press Win and the full stop key to open the emoji and symbol panel, then use the symbols tab and search for multiplication x. |
| macOS | Add Unicode Hex Input under Keyboard settings, switch to it, then hold Option and type 2715. Without that input source, open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space and search for multiplication x. |
| Linux and ChromeOS | Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2715, then press Enter or the space bar. This works in GTK applications and with IBus. |
| Microsoft Word | Type 2715 in the document, then press Alt and X together with the cursor immediately after the last digit. Word replaces the digits with ✕. |
| Google Docs | Insert, then Special characters, then paste U+2715 or type multiplication x in the search box. You can also draw the shape in the sketch pad on the right. |
| Excel and Google Sheets | Use the formula UNICHAR(10005) in a cell. Copy the cell and paste it as a value if you want the character rather than the formula. |
| HTML | Write ✕ or ✕. There is no standard named entity for this character. On a page served as UTF-8 the character itself also works. |
| CSS | Use content: "\2715" inside a ::before or ::after rule. Terminate the escape with a space if the next character is also a hexadecimal digit. |
| JavaScript | The escape \u2715 produces this character inside a string literal, and the same escape is valid in JSON. |
More detail per platform: Windows alt codes, special characters on a Mac, special characters in Word and HTML entities.
Which characters look like the multiplication x?
Several characters render almost identically to this one, and picking the wrong one breaks search, sorting and screen readers even when it looks right on screen. The multiplication x ✕ is U+2715. These are the ones it is confused with.
| Character | Code point | Name | What it is really for |
|---|---|---|---|
| × | U+00D7 | Multiplication Sign | The arithmetic operator. Correct in 3 × 4, and it sits on the maths baseline rather than filling the line box. |
| ✖ | U+2716 | Heavy Multiplication X | The same dingbat with a thicker stroke. |
| ✗ | U+2717 | Ballot X | The counterpart to the check mark. Correct for a rejected or failed item, not for a close button. |
| x | U+0078 | Latin Small Letter X | The letter. It breaks screen reader output and search, and it is asymmetrical in most fonts. |
Frequently asked questions
Which X should a close button use?
U+2715 or U+2716 if it must be a character at all, with an accessible label such as Close. The letter x and the multiplication sign both carry meanings a screen reader will announce.
How do I copy the multiplication x symbol?
Click the ✕ above or the copy button and it is placed on your clipboard. Paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. It is a real text character, so it works in documents, chats and code.
What is the Unicode code point for multiplication x?
The multiplication x has the Unicode code point U+2715. In HTML you can write it as ✕ or ✕.
Can I use the multiplication x symbol in HTML and CSS?
Yes. In HTML write ✕, and in CSS use content: "\2715" inside a ::before or ::after rule. The code table on this page has copy buttons for both.
How does it differ from the lookalikes?
Related symbols
Browse the full check mark symbols hub, or return to the searchable symbol grid.